Chapter 716: Another Possibility

On March 27th, Chen Shi went to the bureau and reviewed all the evidence in the case. This was prompted by a small suspicion.

During the subsequent investigation, the police, following clues provided by Xin Bai, found several victims killed by Xu Guolong. They were all dumped in the suburbs. After identifying them, the police discovered that these individuals had no connection to Xu Guolong.

They were an editor who once refused to pay Xin Bai’s manuscript fees, a fellow writer who clashed with Xin Bai on a forum, a netizen who repeatedly plagiarized Xin Bai’s work in forums, and a female scammer who deceived Xin Bai both financially and emotionally through a dating scam.

Including the fat man who had previously scammed Xin Bai, all five victims had offended him in some way. Xu Guolong’s “love” was indeed selfless and grand, as he eliminated each of these people from the world. However, this raised a slight suspicion in Chen Shi because Xin Bai benefited from these deaths.

While browsing the testimonies, Lin Qiupu suddenly approached him and said, “Have you read the latest update of that novel?”

“Hmm, didn’t you say it was a third-rate novel? Why are you still following it?”

“Just… just reading it to pass the time.”

Chen Shi thought, that novel has now been updated to two million words. Lin Qiupu continued, “The latest volume is about a somewhat famous writer being kidnapped by an obsessed fan. The whole scenario mirrors this case, but with a twist at the end: the writer trains the ‘kidnapper’ and uses him to eliminate people who were against him, ultimately killing the ‘kidnapper’ and leaving no evidence. I can’t help but wonder, that night, even though he was heavily protected by the police, he insisted on going alone to see Xu Guolong. Could there be more to this?”

Chen Shi pondered, “I think it’s just an alternative possibility he explored in his novel. After all, novels are meant to be full of twists and turns.”

“You sound like you’re defending him. Is it because you’re a fan?” Lin Qiupu mocked.

As he was considering how to respond, Chen Shi’s eyes inadvertently landed on a line on the paper. It was Lan Xiao’s testimony—

Q: I heard the little fool and that pervert say, ‘This isn’t according to plan!’

Q: Are you sure you heard that?

A: (shaking his leg) Absolutely sure.

Chen Shi picked up the testimony and examined it closely, saying, “What’s this about? You conducted the interrogation, and I was listening outside the whole time. I don’t remember this part!”

“Oh, that? Lan Xiao came back later to add it.”

“When?”

“Probably last Monday!”

The date on the record matched that time, which was after Lan Xiao had harassed Xin Bai. He said, “One possibility is that Lan Xiao is deliberately smearing Xin Bai, seeking revenge because he feels he suffered and wants someone to take the blame.”

“Lan Xiao must be quite meticulous. If Xin Bai really said, ‘This isn’t according to plan,’ then the whole case would have to be overturned.”

“Did you investigate Lan Xiao’s company?”

“The third team is looking into it. Their company seems suspicious, not like a legitimate logistics company, but we haven’t found any solid evidence yet.”

“Lan Xiao is indeed hard to trust. That statement is likely fabricated, but…” Chen Shi paused, “If it’s true, then this case could have another possibility—Xin Bai played us all!”

“Think about it carefully. Lan Xiao was at the scene, both a witness and someone who provided a self-defense justification for Xin Bai stabbing Xu Guolong. Everything fits together perfectly.” Lin Qiupu frowned.

Before Lin Qiupu could finish speaking, Chen Shi walked away without a word. He spent the rest of the day contemplating this “other possibility.”

Whether or not there’s another possibility, one thing is certain: people always inadvertently protect themselves in their statements. When many people describe the same event, it becomes a Rashomon. The truth of the case can never be fully restored; there are always secrets hidden in the dark.